UAE moves to host Pacquiao-Floyd fight in Dubai

MANILA/DUBAI – The dream fight between world boxing icons Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may yet happen soon.
This loomed as officials of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to join the race to host the fight in Dubai.
Danny Buenafe of the ABS-CBN News Middle East Bureau reported from Dubai that the President and Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates have given the green light to hold talks for a possible staging of the fight in Dubai.
There was no immediate reaction on the plan from both Mayweather and Pacquiao.

Pacquiao has been reported lately resigned to the possibility that the dream fight with Mayweather will not happen in the immediate future.
To while away his time, Pacquiao has decided to coach the KIA Motors team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) tournament. Pacquiao already went public wearing a jacket of a coach of KIA Motors and has started screening possible members of the basketball team.
It was not known if Pacquiao will be also a playing coach of the KIA Motors team as he had expressed his desire before to also play in the league. But rules of PBA state that to be able to play, Pacquiao has to undergo the draft in the league in which he may end up with another PBA team.
There was no word also if basketball legend Robert Jaworski will come out of retirement and assist Pacquiao in the KIA Motors team as manager or coach.
Prince Amir Shafipour expressed confidence that they have the formula to bring to the negotiating table the handlers for both Pacquiao and Mayweather, according to the report.
Prince Amir, representing Golden Cage Events and Promotions,r was given the go-signal to coordinate with a major boxing promoter in the United States.
He did not reveal yet the identity of the promoter, but boasts that the latter has connections to both camps, the report added.
The network report which is posted on ABS-CBN website stated that Prince Amir has the backing of UAE President Khalifa Bin Zayed AL Nahyan, whose vision is to make Dubai the premiere entertainment and tourism destination, not only in the Middle East, but globally.
He does not see any problem raising the prize money, or the handle of Top Rank Promotions of Bob Arum, where Pacquiao has an existing contract.
Reports have indicated that Mayweather is unwilling to work with Arum.
While admitting there could be slight problems in dealing with Mayweather, Prince Amir remains optimistic this could be ironed out.
Prince Amir and Golden Cage Events and Promotions were behind the huge success of the recently concluded Global Fighting Championships, held also in Dubai.
They are currently going through a financial study, reviewing the pay-per-view, and other TV rights in holding the Pacquiao-Mayweather mega-fight.
For years, Dubai has become a sports paradise for huge events in the field of golf, tennis and even horse racing. Prince Amir believes the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight could be the clincher.
He is set to leave for the United States in the next two to three weeks to finalize the negotiations.